Multiple unit concrete pumping apparatus



Nov. 10, 1936. c. F. BALL MULTIPLE UNIT CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1953 2 Sheets--Sl'lee'l l Nov. 10, 1936. c. F. BALL MULTIPLE UNIT CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @ha/Ms (Ball,

Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MULTIPLE UNIT CONCRETE PUMPING APPARATUS Charles F. Ball, Wauwatosa, Wis., assignor to Chain Belt Company, Milwaukee, Wis., a cor poration of Wisconsin Application September 8, 1933, SeriaLNo. *688,650

15 Claims. (Cl. 137-78) This invention relates to multiple unit conproperty known as stowing. That is to say, crete pumping apparatus, and has for one of its such a mixture traveling through a closed conobjects to provide apparatus of this character duit under pressure, upon meeting an obstruccapable of'forcing aplastic concrete mixture emtion in said conduit, or a sudden constriction bodying substantial proportions of coarse aggretherein, whereby in either case, a relatively abrupt 5 gates which give to such mixture a strong tendreduction inthe crossse'ctional area of the pasency to stow, over relatively great distances in sageway is produced, will not increase its velocity a continuous conned stream, without detrias will a liquid or gas, to pass such restriction, mental change in the ycharacter of the mixture; but on the' other hand, dueV to theV resistance of The recently developed Kooyman mechanical the pieces of coarse aggregate to sudden changes 10' concrete pump, disclosed in U. S. Patent No. in their relative positions in the mixture, will 2,017,975, granted October 22, 1935, which em- Stow or pack atthe restriction, and' the flow will ploys a power driven piston reciprocating within completely stop. When stowing onceoccurs, a working cylinder, delivers a continuous stream no amount of pressure, within the structural 0f plastic Concrete mixture, and such. pumps, limits of the apparatus, will again start the flow. l5V

having a single cylinder 7 inches in diameter, Stowing may also occur if therebe too abrupt and a piston stroke of 10 inches, when working a change inthe direction of travel of the stream, at from 44 to 55 strokes per minute, will handle as at a bend'in the passage, the radius of which is up to cubic yards of concrete per hour. In too small.

20 many instances, however, an increased capacity Practical considerations, including those hav- 20 is desirable, and since it is not commercially ing to do with the handling of the concrete pipe practical to materially increase either the piston line sections, make it extremely desirable that diameter or stroke, the most feasible way of ac'- the'diameter of the pipe be not in excess of that complishing such increased capacity is through of the pump cylinder, say 'l inches; but with two the use of additional cylinders. While the single or more continuous 7 inch streamsk of concrete 25 cylinder pumps maintain the pipe line lled, they coming from a multiple unit pump, there is do not secure the maximum efficiency therefrom, quite a problem to combine them into a single 7 since of necessity on the back stroke of the inchstream without stowing. If the conpiston the concrete is not moving forwardly except stituents of the concrete mixture would freely through its own momentum, and this, because of change their relative positions, as do the particles 30 the sticky nature of the mixture, is relatively of a liquid or gas, the combining would present no small. It is therefore quite practical to employ serious diiiculties; but as above pointed out, the additional working cylinders and pistons, prefpieces of coarse aggregate resist to a marked erably although not necessarily synchronized in degree any-sudden change in their relative positheir action, to force additional concrete through tions, and considerable experimenting has been 35' the line without increasing the diameter thereof, necessary to determine a practical way of effectand such multiple cylinder pumps will discharge ing the combination,

greatly increased quantities of the mixture Under some conditions when operating with a thereby approaching the theoretical maximum multiple unit concrete pump, it may also `be decapacity of the line. sirablevinsteado-f combining the separate streams, 40

It is of course old in all sorts of expansible to `pipe each stream toits own point of discharge, chamber pumps to employ multiple working which points maybewidely separated. Or, it may chambers, and to combine the discharges ofthe be desirableto operate with only one, or less than several chambers into a single stream. Howthe maximum number of units, of the pump.

- ever, in attempting to combine two or more con- This, together with the fact that the combin- 45 iined streams of plastic concrete moving under ingzof the individual streams. within the pump pressure, certain problems are met, which so structure is not practical witho-ut increasing the far as applicant is aware, are not encountered dimensions ofthe pump beyond reasonable limits, in the handling of other substances. makes it desirable that each unit have its own As is now well known to those skilled in this individual discharge, and thatthe combining of 50 art, the presence in the co-ncrete mixture of the the streams, if done, be accomplished exterior-1y of relatively large proportion of coarse aggregates, the pump.

e. g. the gravel, crushed stone, and the like, in The invention therefore resides principally in sizes which may range up to 3 inches or more the DI'OViSiOn'Uf a plurality 0f Separate Dumping 5v5," in greatest dimension, imparts to the mixture a Units, each having: its. own discharger conduit, 55

operated to produce a plurality of continuous confined streams of the mixture, which may be discharged independently as such, but which are preferably combined without stowing into a single confined stream.

The invention further particularly includes the means whereby the several independent streams are combined without stowing into a single stream, the cross sectional area of which is substantially equal to the mean of the cross sectional area of the original streams.

With the above and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel details of construction and combinations of parts more fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification in which like reference characters designate like parts in al1 the views:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of one form of multiple unit concrete pumping apparatus constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention, including the means for combining the separate streams into a single stream;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the parts shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view through the stream-combining and reducing elements, taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a central vertical sectional view of the parts illustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view, taken approXimately on the plane indicated by the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Figure 6 is an end elevational view of the outflow end of the combining chamber, as viewed on the plane indicated by the line 6 6 of Figure 4; and

Figure '7 is a cross sectional view, taken approximately on the plane indicated by the line 'I I of Fig. 4.

In the said drawings there is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2 a concrete pump of the Kooyman type, comprising two units, A and B, although obviously a greater number may be employed if desired. The said units are substantial duplicates of one another except that one is right hand and the other left hand as regards the valves, valve actuating mechanism and driving gears, and each comprises a cylinder I0, piston II working therein, and reciprocated by means of piston rod I2 and crank mechanism I3 from a crank shaft I4 which carries a gear I5 meshing with a pinion I6 mounted upon the counter-shaft I1, which carries a pulley or sprocket I8 driven by a belt or chain I9 which passes around a pulley or sprocket 20 carried by the driving shaft 2I of a suitable motor enclosed within the housing 22. Each unit is provided with an inlet valve 23 having a suitable valve actuating mechanism 24, and an outlet valve 25 actuated by suitable mechanism 26. Each unit is further provided with a supply hopper 2'I communicating with its inlet valve 23, and as here shown, the two hoppers are joined together and provided with a dividing plate or wall 28. Each unit is provided with its own individual discharge 29 leading from the outlet valve 25. The driving gears I5 of the respective units are preferably so meshed with their pinions I6 that the pistons II of the two units are working in synchronism at 180 apart s0 that When one piston is making its working stroke the other is making its suction stroke. Of course if three or four units are employed the strokes of the pistons preferably will be operated at 120 or 90 apart as will be readily understood.

In case it is desired to conduct the concrete from the respective units in the form of two separate streams, separate pipe lines may be connected to the outlet members 29 of each unit and each line carried to its own discharge point. If, however, as is usually the case it is desired to combine the separate streams of the two units into a single stream, the apparatus shown at the left of Figures 1 and 2, and in detail in Figures 3 to 7 inclusive is employed.

This apparatus comprises a combining chamber 30, which may conveniently take the form of a casting, to the inlet end of which is welded or otherwise rigidly secured a pair of reversely curved pipes or conduits 3I, which may be provided with suitable slip joints diagrammatically indicated at 32 for engagement with the short pipe sections 33 which are connected to the discharge members 29, preferably by some form of readily detachable pipe coupling.

The combining chamber 3D when viewed in plan as in Figures 1 and 3, tapers from its right hand end as viewed in the said figures from a dimension which is substantially equal to the sum of the diameters of the pipes 3| to a somewhat lesser dimension at its left hand end. The said pipes 3l where they join the combining chamber 30 are disposed at an acute angle relative to one another, not exceeding say 30, and preferably approximately only 15, and the taper of the combining section 30 when viewed in plan is substantially that produced by this angle. On the other hand, said combining section as viewed in side elevation in Figures 2 and 4 tapers outwardly from right to left from substantially the diameter of one of the pipes 3| at the right hand end to a larger diameter at the left hand end. At its right hand end the combining chamber presents two substantially circular or slightly elliptical passages 35 best seen in Figures 6 and 7, disposed side by side and partially divided by the upwardly and downwardly projecting ridges 36, which ridges, however, diminish in depth as they progress toward the left, as will be clear from Figures 3 and 4. These ridges leave no dead spots in the chamber in which the concrete would become dormant, harden and build up, and they also assist materially in the blending of the two streams and changing their shape into that of a single stream.

The chamber changes its cross-sectional shape as its progresses from right to left from that of the two side-by-side circular or elliptical passages 35 to a single circular passage 37 at the left hand end. The dimensions of the said passages, however, are such that the cross-sectional area of the chamber, regardless of its shape at any particular point, is substantially uniform throughout. In other words, assuming that the diameter of the pipes 3I is 7 inches, as above mentioned, the diameter of the outlet 3l of the cornbining chamber will be approximately 10 inches, which will give a cross-sectional area substantially equal to the sum of the cross sectional areas of the two inlet passages 35. Of course, if more than two inlet passages are provided, in the case of a pump having more than two units, the diameter of the circular outlet 3l in most cases should be increased so as to make the cross sectional area of the said outlet more or less Cil ` equivalentto the Asum of thelcros's -sectionalareas lin a Astream of such diameter.

of -all'the'in'lets A i I AWith-"the pipes-3 bothffully` of plastic 'concrete "mixture in the iorm of continuous -moving streams, these -will be r'st brought into'contact 'in' the inlet-passages35 of the combii'iing cham- Iber, yand will be f gradually transformed Aby the -latterint'oa :single circular'stream by'the time `they-'reach' the outlet31, the cross 'sectional area of whi'chfcombine'd*stream will be substantially equivalentto-that of the two incoming streams. The -combinin'g vof 'fthe separate streams is so "effected withinthe chamber`f30,fby reason of the `fact that vits cross-sectional -area Ydoes not' vary ymaterially notwithstanding thev change` inv "shape, that thepieces -of large aggregatein'the'mixture arenotvcalledupon to'change their relativepositions sufficiently suddenly to produce the vstowingfaction'fabove described.

Exceptfor the-'diliculty in handlingthelarger size pipe, say oi 'l0 inchfdiamten'the mixture could be taken'from the combining chamber 'at dischar'ge-'S'I and conducted to thepointfof use However, it is preferred to reduce the diameter 'of the combined stream down to-substantially that oi each-of the 'original streams, or say 7 inches, Vbut inso doing, yit `ris-'essential that'the reduction be accomplished quite gradually. While'the distance within which the reductionrmay be accomplished v-is of vcourse somewhat dependent upon'the-consistency of the mixture-it being possiblefto reduce the diameter ofastream of a relatively wetmixturesomewhat more rapidly'thanlin the case of-acomparatively drylrnixture without stowing-it has beenfound thatl'or the range of consistenciesand'mixtures commonly employed, a reduction `from v10 -inches vto '7 inches in diameter may be accomplished within a distance of approximately 5 feet 'without producing the stowing action. Extremely Wet'mixes may be reduced in somewhat less than this-distance while on the other hand extremely dry mixes may require a somewhat greater distance, but for all average mixtures the reduction above given has been found to be satisfactory.

In order to effect such reduction there is connected to the outlet end of the combining chamber 3B a tapered reducing section 38, the right hand end 39 of which has a diameter equal to that of the outlet port 3`| of the combining chamber, and the outlet end 40 of Which-has a diameter substantially equal to that ofthe diameter of the pipes 3|, or say 7 inches. As above stated this change in the diameter from -10 inches to 7 inches is preferably accomplished within a distance of approximately ve feet.

In order to properly support the combining chamber and the said pipes 3| thereof a beam 45 may be extended longitudinally from the pump frame and be provided at its outer end with a suitable guide or track 46 here illustrated as comprising a channelV section. A plate 4l is welded or otherwise rigidly secured to the under sides of the vpipes 3| adjacent their point of entry into the combining chamber30 and the said plate carries a stud or nubbin 48 extending downwardly and adapted to be received within the channel i5 as 'shown in'Figures 4 and 5. The plate 41 and stud '48 are preferably located atsubstantially the balancing point oi the assembled combining chamber -30 and the supply 'pipes 3|, so that the whole assembly may be readily handled by one man throughthe use of suitable grips or handles 49 with which Vthe combining chamber 30 may be provided as shown in Figure 3. The said as- 'sembly -ma'y 'of course'be slid longitudinallyof the 'channel -`46 'to A'disengage 'the slip joints 32 when it is desired to break'theconduit'for any purpose, "and the assembly may likewisebe swung 'inahorizontal direction upon the stud 48 which acts as a pivot.

The'pipevline/Elliwhich is connected to the discharge enddll'of-the reducing section '38 is preferably ofthe same diameter, say 7 inches, as the 'pump cylinders and the vsaild'line may be extended to 4"any desired point of discharge as is common in these'concrete pump lines.

Although in the drawings the two units are illustrated as being directly driven from he mosuitable clutch means may be provided for disengaging thek drive of either or both. Such means, if employed, should be'preferably of a type enfg'ageable in only one certain position of the parts,

'required by the claims.

`What is claimed is:

lflnjapparatus for combining without stowing conned moving streams of plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of 'coarse aggregates 'which give to the mixture a strongtenden'cy to stow, a plurality of closed converging-mixturel conduits ;v and a combining chamber fat the intersection of said conduits, having an inlet for each thereof,'anda common outlet spaced from said inlets, said chamber continuously `changing in cross sectional contour fth'ro'ughoutits length from approximately that of said 'plurality of inlets to that of said common "outlet while'maintaining an approximately uniform `cross sectional area.

2. In apparatus `for combining without stow- 'in`g confined-moving streams of plastic 'concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse 4aggregates which give to the mixture a strong tendencyfto stow, a plurality of closed con- ''ve'r'gingmixture'conduits; and a combining chame ber at the intersection-of said conduits, having an inlet for -eac'h thereof, and a common outlet spaced ffrom s'a'id inlets, said chamber continuously changing in cross sectional contour throughout its length from approximately that rif-'said plurality of inletsto that of said common 'outlet'w'hile maintaining an approximately uniform v'dross sectional area which is substantially equal to "the sum of the cross sectional areas of said "converging conduits.

3.7In apparatus for combining without stow ingc'onned moving streams of plastic concrete 'miiiture embodying substantial proportions of lco'ars'e laggregates which give to the mixture a "strong-tenden'cy'to Stow, a plurality of closed convergingfinixture'conduits; and a combining'cham- Ibei' vat`theirte'r'section of said conduits, having aplur'ality of adjacent transversely communicating inlet vpassages 'connected with the respective conduits, and a common outlet longitudinally spa'c'edirom said inlets, each of the latter being of'a 'fco'niiguration and cross sectional area sub s'tantiallythe same Aas its conduit, said chamber gradually changing in cross section throughout its l'ei'igthfr'om the `"configuration of the plurality of associated inlets to that of the common outlet While maintaining an approximately uniform cross sectional area.

4. In apparatus for combining Without stowing confined moving streams of plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregates which give to the mixture a strong tendency to stow, a plurality of closed converging mixture conduits; and a combining chamber at the intersection of said conduits, the perimetral Walls thereof being shaped at one end to provide a plurality of adjacent transversely communicating inlet passages, each connected to a conduit and of substantially the same cross sectional configuration and area as said conduit, said Walls being shaped at the other end of said chamber to provide a single outlet having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the sum of the areas of said inlet passages, and said Walls intermediate said ends being shaped to change gradually from the cross sectional configuration of said plurality of inlets to that of said single outlet While maintaining in all transverse planes a cross Sectional area Which is approximately equal to the sum of the areas of said inlet passages.

5. In apparatus for combining confined moving streams of plastic concrete mixtures, a plurality of closed passages converging at an acute angle, and a combining chamber at the intersection of said passages having a cross sectional area sufficient to prevent stowing of the mixture as the streams meet, said chamber having projecting ridges extending in the direction of flow for facilitating the merging of the streams.

6. In apparatus for combining confined moving streams of plastic concrete mixtures, a plurality of closed passages converging at an acute angle; and a combining chamber at the intersection of said passages having a cross sectional area sufficient to prevent stowing of the mixture as the streams meet, said chamber having tapering projecting ridges extending in the direction of flow for gradually changing the contour and facilitating the merging of the streams.

7. In apparatus for combining Without stowing confined moving streams of plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregates which give to the mixture a strong tendency to stow, a plurality of closed mixture conduits converging at an angle of less than 30; and a combining chamber at the intersection of said conduits, having an inlet for each thereof, and a common outlet spaced from said inlets, said chamber continuously changing in cross sectional contour throughout its length from approximately that of said plurality of inlets to that of said common outlet While maintaining an approximately uniform cross sectional area.

8. In apparatus for combining Without stowing confined moving streams of plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregates which give to the mixture a strong tendency to Stow, a plurality of closed mixture conduits converging at an angle of approximately and a combining chamber at the intersection of said conduits, having an inlet for each thereof, and a common outlet spaced from said inlets, said chamber continuously changing in cross sectional contour throughout its length from approximately that of said plurality of inlets to that of said common outlet While maintaining an approximately uniform cross sectional area.

9. In apparatus for combining confined streams of plastic concrete mixtures moving under pressure, a plurality of closed passages converging at an acute angle; a combining chamber at the intersection of said passages having a substantially uniform cross sectional area which is approximately equal to the sum of the cross sectional areas of said passages, whereby to prevent stowing of the mixture as the streams meet; and a tapering passage leading from said chamber, the taper thereof being such as to prevent stowing of the mixture as it passes therethrough.

10. In apparatus for combining confined streams of plastic concrete mixtures moving under pressure, a plurality of closed passages converging at an acute angle; a combining chamber at the intersection of said passages having a substantially uniform cross sectional area which is approximately equal to the sum of the cross sectional areas of said passages, whereby to prevent stowing of the mixture as the streams meet; and a tapering passage leading from said chamber, diminishing in cross sectional area from that of the chamber to substantially the average of the cross sectional areas of the original streams, the taper being such as to prevent stowing of the mixture as it passes therethrough.

11. A chamber for combining without stowing a plurality of confined moving streams of plastic concrete mixtures embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregates, said chamber having a plurality of transversely spaced inlet ports and a single outlet port longitudinally spaced therefrom, the transverse dimension of said chamber in one plane diminishing uniformly from said inlet ports to said outlet port, and the transverse dimension in another plane increasing uniformly from said inlet ports to said outlet port.

l2. A chamber for combining Without stowing a plurality of conned moving streams of a plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregates, said chamber having a plurality of adjacent transversely communicating inlet ports and a single outlet port longitudinally spaced therefrom, the transverse dimension of said chamber in one longitudinal plane diminishing uniformly from said inlet ports to said outlet port, and the` transverse dimension in a longitudinal plane at right angles to said first plane increasing uniformly from said inlet ports to said outlet port.

13. A chamber for combining Without stowing a plurality of confined moving streams of a plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregates, said chamber having a plurality of adjacent transversely communicating inlet ports and a single outlet port longitudinally spaced therefrom, the transverse dimension of said chamber in one longitudinal plane diminishing uniformly from said inlet ports to said outlet port, and the transverse dimension in a longitudinal plane at right angles to said rst plane increasing uniformly from said inlet ports to said outlet port, and the cross sectional area of said chamber being approximately uniform from said inlet to said outlet ports.

14. Apparatus for combining a plurality of confined pressurally moved streams of plastic concrete mixture embodying substantial proportions of coarse aggregate, comprising a chamber of approximately uniform cross sectional area from end to end, and of cross sectional conguration varying from approximately that of the plurality of streams at its inlet end to that of a single stream at its other end. arranged to combine saidl original streams without stowing into a single unbroken stream having a cross sectional area greater than that of any of said original streams; and means for gradually reducing Without stowing the cross sectional area of the combined stream to substantially the mean of the cross sectional areas of the original streams.

15. The steps in the method of combining a plurality of conned moving streams of plastic concrete mixtures embodying substantial proportions of coarse, aggregates which give to said mixtures a strong tendency to stoW, into a single conned unbroken moving stream having a cross sectional area substantially equal to the mean of cross sectional areas of the several original streams, Which comprise bringing said original streams together at an acute angle to produce a single stream having a cross sectional area greater than said mean of the cross sectional areas of the said original streams; and then reduoing the cross sectional area of the combined l0 stream suoiently gradually to prevent stoWing.

CHARLES F. BALL. 

